CommunitySafe.gov.uk

DRIVE OUT VEHICLE CRIME In an effort to combat vehicle crime, Merton Borough Police in conjunction with Safer Merton are launching a ‘Drive Out Vehicle Crime’ initiative which will include a number of partnership interventions throughout the year, the first of which is to provide a property marking service for those living within the Borough that may well have received property such as sat navs that may well be used and left in vehicles. Inspector Jim COOK from Merton Police said, “Vehicle crime is the one of the highest crime types in the Borough and a number of Safer Neighbourhood Teams have had vehicle crime reduction chosen by their ward Panels to work. We will be looking to raise the public’s awareness and offering advice on how they can help us reduce the incidence of vehicle crime. Over the coming weeks and months Merton Police will be carrying out a number of proactive operations against those involved in vehicle crime. Already the Safer Neighbourhood Teams conduct a large number of Automatic Number Plate Operations and will continue these with both uniform and plain clothes patrols in areas where vehicle crime is most prevalent. I would urge those living in Merton to contact their local Safer Neighbourhood Team and sign up to Community Safe to receive up to date news of what their local Safer Neighbourhood Team is up to. This is a free system and by joining it you can find out about crime alerts and what the Police are doing in your local area. You can join by either logging onto WWW.Communitysafe.gov.uk or by contacting your local Safer Neighbourhood Team direct”. We take this opportunity to remind you all to: Ensure cars are locked – this might seem simple but a high percentage of cars are left unlocked in Merton. Don’t leave anything on view – you may know your jacket is empty but an opportunist thief doesn’t. Take your sat nav out of your vehicle and clean the suction mark off the windscreen – thieves will smash your window just to check the glove box. For any further information please contact Cannon Hill Safer Neighbourhoods Team on 0208 721 2455, via the main Met Police website or by e-mail at Cannonhill.snt@met.police.uk. If you wish to become a member of Community safe and sign up to free crime alerts and news of what your local safer Neighbourhood Team is up to please contact us or join via www.communitysafe.gov.uk. John Tibaldi PS89VW